DOTS Expansion Working Group - Team

Members of the Working Group

The DEWG is composed of the representatives of the high TB burden countries and partner institutions, including financial and technical agencies. The institutions and their representatives participating in this initiative as well as the experts invited on their personal capacity will provide the DEWG with technical advice and input on DOTS expansion. Membership is open to any institution or agency, which supports the goals of the Working Group. Additional members may be invited based on their willingness to collaborate and the potential of contribution to the initiative.

Chair

The Chair serves for a period of two years renewable. A nominating committee will be set up prior to the election. The members of the DEWG will elect the chair following the recommendations of the committee.

The terms of reference of the DEWG chair are:

  • To define, with the DEWG core group and the secretariat, the key areas of work and the direction of the DEWG.
  • To coordinate the activities with the chairs of the DEWG subgroups.
  • To convene the DEWG on an annual basis and chair the meeting.
  • To convene and chair the teleconferences and meetings of the DEWG core group.

Secretariat

The secretariat is hosted by WHO, is answerable to the DEWG, and operates under the WHO system within the TB Strategy and Health Systems unit of the Stop TB Department. It's responsibilities include: organizing the DEWG and the core group meetings; preparing the agenda and relevant documents in consultation with the Chair and members of the core group; preparing and distributing the reports of the meetings; monitoring the implementation of the recommendations; and managing resources provided for the functioning of the group.

  • Dr Léopold Blanc, WHO
  • Dr Malgosia Grzemska, WHO
  • Ms Amy Piatek, WHO

Core Group

The core group was established at the request of the secretariat with the aim of facilitating and accelerating decision making and setting the strategic directions of the DEWG. The core team is composed of three permanent technical members (The Union, KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation and WHO), the subgroup chairpersons, and non-permanent members serving for two years. It includes country representatives and major agencies working in TB control. The core group will hold teleconferences regularly as required by the chair, the secretariat, or at the request of a member of the core team.

The terms of reference of the DEWG core team are to:

  • Assist with the preparatory work for the annual meeting of the DEWG.
  • Hold regular conferences, usually by telephone, to assist faster decision making related to the DEWG activities.
  • Assist in preparing joint missions in support of countries in need of technical assistance on behalf of the DEWG.
  • Ensure a clear approach to country assistance whereby a technical agency is identified to coordinate external assistance.
  • Identify gaps in country technical assistance and develop plans to fill the gaps.
  • Monitor progress in ISAC countries and assist with coordination of ISAC activities as needed.

The current members of the DEWG Core Team are:

  • Dr Jeremiah Chakaya, Chairperson (Kenya)
  • Dr Léopold Blanc, WHO
  • Dr Nils Billo, The Union
  • Dr Peter Gondrie, KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation
  • Dr John Ridderhof, Laboratory Subgroup Chairperson
  • Dr Robert Gie, Childhood TB Subgroup Chairperson
  • Dr Philip Hopewell, PPM DOTS Subgroup Chairperson
  • Dr Bertie Squire, TB and Poverty Subgroup Chairperson
  • Mr Fraser Fowler, CIDA
  • Dr Masashi Suchi, RIT/JATA
  • Ms Susan Bacheller, USAID
  • Dr Expedito Luna, Brazil
  • Dr Mao Tan Eang, Cambodia
  • Dr Zerihun Tadesse, Ethiopia
  • Dr Lakhbir Singh Chauhan, India
  • Dr Win Maung, Myanmar
  • Mr Bertrand Kampoer, Community Representative, Cameroon
  • Mr Pervaiz Tufail, Community Representative, Pakistan

Subgroups

Subgroups Terms of References

The purpose of the subgroups is to guide and coordinate activities to address specific challenges of DOTS expansion. Two subgroups of the DEWG were established in 2002, a third subgroup was established in 2003, and the fourth was established in 2004. The subgroups will develop annual work plans, which they will present, alongside with their progress report, during the annual DEWG meeting.

The objectives of the laboratory capacity strengthening subgroup are to assess the laboratory networks within the 22 high TB burden countries and other countries requiring special assistance, as well as help develop plans to strengthen the capacity of the laboratory networks and assist in the implementation of these plans.

To aim of the Public-Private Mix (PPM) DOTS TB control subgroup is to promote NTP-driven PPM for DOTS implementation to help achieve global TB control targets. It is hoped that the benefits of DOTS could be reached to all TB suspects and cases regardless of the provider they seek care from.

The goal of the childhood TB subgroup is to decrease the global burden of mortality and morbidity caused by TB in children.

The Network for Action on TB and Poverty is governed by the TB and Poverty subgroup. The network/subgroup will serve as a platform for innovative implementation and sharing of experiences. The Network/subgroup aims to be the catalyst for expansion of best practice in TB control activities, to extend and adapt the DOTS strategy to better meet the needs of the poor, and help meet the global target of 70% TB case detection.